Here we are. 1-1/2 weeks into a Republican President’s reign with a Democratic Congress. What’s his first objective? To throw the gauntlet down.
Bush, in a not so suprising move, asks for over 20,000 more troops to be sent to Iraq to help with the peace efforts. This move is to help in a police capacity to help maintain the peace and to have Iraqi forces take over more of the insurgent fighting with some troops imbedded in their ranks. (Not quite 100% of what was said, but pretty close.)
Britain’s response was to basically say “Good Job… We won’t be increasing troop size.” And now parts of the Senate are calling it “a tragic mistake.” Which part? Well the Republicans…. Figure that one out.
Bush, brilliant president or mad man? There are 2 ways to take this and different ways to deal with it. Either he is naive enough to believe this plan will work, or he is trying to create a legacy move that will keep him as a chapter in the history books. Maybe he’s burned his retreat bridge and can’t get out so he has to go forward or lose face.
Here’s a few predictions. IF Congress approves this move, we continue to fight this until the US is so entrenched in Iraq that all military capacity is focused at that point and can’t be used in the event of any other crisis. We could win this but doubtful because this is a civil war and until they can conduct a treaty between the two warring factions, they will continue to war. It will be small until all of everyone from one side is eliminated or until the US moves out of the way for them to fight their fight.
IF Congress disapproves of this troop increase, then Bush can place the future failures in Iraq on Congress. “If Congress would have approved, we wouldn’t be here right now.” The problem is that you can’t predict the future but most people can speculate the what-if’s and its possible that this will become one of those.
Anyway, while I support the President, I don’t necessarily see things the same way he does. The last election should show Bush that the American people don’t support his moves in Iraq. Win or fail, Iraq is all of America, not just Bush whether he’s the one that gets the blame or the praise. Its not always easy to do what is unpopular but sometimes you have to. I don’t think this is one of those cases. If the American people are willing to deal with any repurcussions based on a decision, the decision shouldn’t be up to one person and that is what this has become.
On a side note, I’m in Utah which is considered the “reddest state in the Union.” His approval rating has dropped by double digits in this state and the war in Iraq is the major, if not only, reason for that drop.
Mr. President. Listen to the American people and if you don’t agree, that’s fine. This is a decision that is being made by more and more people everyday. Listen and take heed before the damage can’t be reversed.
